After Impacted Tooth Extractions

What is an impacted tooth and when should it be extracted?

Most people have had their wisdom teeth removed because they were impacted — but wisdom teeth aren’t the only teeth that can be impacted and cause problems.

If you have pain in your mouth it might be an impacted tooth. Dr. Karanvir Sibia, and the staff at Ace Dental in Roseville can provide impacted tooth extraction.

What are impacted teeth?

A tooth is impacted when it doesn’t emerge from underneath the gums properly. This is common with wisdom teeth, but it is almost as common with the upper canines, the teeth that are also known as the “eye teeth”.

Canines might be impacted because when they come in the front teeth are already overcrowded, leaving the teeth to compete for room. There may be extra teeth in the mouth so that a tooth is blocking the eruption of the canine. In some cases, there may be a growth on the gum tissue that makes it difficult for the tooth to emerge properly.

Wisdom teeth may be impacted because they are far back in your mouth and just may not have the room to come in properly.

What problems can impacted teeth cause?

If a canine tooth is impacted and nothing is done about it, this can lead to problems with other teeth, and can mean they won’t erupt properly. It can also cause infection, painful changes to the jaw, and even the formation of cysts.

If an impacted wisdom tooth isn’t removed, it can cause many problems as well. It can be very painful. And, because it is far back in the mouth (and doesn’t emerge properly), an impacted wisdom tooth can be very difficult to keep clean. This can mean bacteria and debris easily collect around the tooth, which can increase the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and infection. It can also cause crowding in the mouth that can harm other teeth and cause other problems.

What can be done about impacted teeth?

If you have wisdom teeth that are impacted, the solution is most often to remove them, as they serve no important function and can be removed without harming a patient’s oral health.

Canines, however, are important to a healthy mouth. The dentist may first try to guide the tooth into the right position. However, if the patient is over 40, the canine is most likely fused into place and cannot be moved into the right place. In this case, extraction will likely be recommended.

What can I expect after an impacted tooth extraction?

You may experience some pain after surgery to remove impacted teeth. Most patients report that the pain is mild to moderate. You may be given a prescription for painkillers, or you may try over-the-counter painkillers. Don’t take painkillers on an empty stomach, and make sure you take them soon after the surgery, before the anesthesia wears off and the discomfort begins.

Also, some bleeding and swelling is normal.

The site will likely be closed with self-dissolving stitches and the surgery site packed with gauze. You should keep slight pressure on the gauze for at least half an hour, to allow a blood clot to form on the site.

To help with pain and swelling, use a cold compress on the outside of the mouth for the first 24 hours — 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off. Don’t use heat until after the first day, as it can cause the blood clot at the site to come loose and bleeding to start again. Lie with your head slightly elevated to help pain and swelling.

You might not feel like eating after your tooth extraction, but it is important to try to get adequate nutrition. Eating will help you to gain strength and heal faster (and you’ll feel better, too!). Start with a cold beverage, and then progress to soft foods, such as:

Thin soups

Ice cream

Gelatin

Pudding

Yogurt

Mashed potatoes

Scrambled eggs

Well-cooked pasta

You should plan on resting for the rest of the day after the tooth extraction and for the next day as well. After a good rest, you can resume your normal activities, although you should avoid strenuous activities for about a week.

You will also heal faster (and feel better) if you avoid: smoking, using a straw (which can make blood clots come out and make you start bleeding again), drinking alcohol or carbonated beverages, and aspirin or aspirin products.

When should I call Dr. Sibia?

Of course, if you have any questions after an impacted tooth extraction, please feel free to give Dr. Sibia and the staff at Ace Dental in Roseville a call!

You should also call Dr. Sibia if you have excessive or severe bleeding that won’t stop, swelling that persists, or severe pain after 24 hours of the surgery.

If you have an impacted tooth, you can count on Dr. Sibia and Ace Dental in Roseville to help! Call Dr. Sibia today, at (916) 772-0111.